ITV1's Davison defeats BBC1's Dimbleby

BBC1's new arts documentary series A Picture of Britain launched with nearly 5 million viewers last night but proved less popular than ITV1's whimsical Peter Davison drama The Last Detective.

In A Picture of Britain, David Dimbleby tours the countryside a Land Rover to examine how the scenery has inspired artists and writers through the ages.

Last night's opening episode focused on northern England, taking in the Lake District, Bronte country and Lindisfarne. The programme attracted 4.7 million viewers and a 20% audience share between 9pm and 10pm, according to unofficial overnights.

Turner's paintings of Northumberland featured, as did the Lakeland-inspired poetry of Wordsworth and Coleridge.

The BBC1 show was up against The Last Detective on ITV1, which was had 5.8 million viewers and a 26% share between 9pm and 10.30pm.

Also in the 9pm slot, Channel 4's Big Brother performed solidly, attracting 4 million viewers and a 17% audience share. The first eviction show between 10pm and 10.35pm on Friday - in which Mary, the self-styled witch, left the house - got 4.7 million viewers and a 24% share.

At 9pm yesterday on Five, a repeat of the Bruce Willis movie Striking Distance was watched by 2.2 million viewers, while a Horizon documentary about the battle to find a cure for malaria attracted 1.3 million on BBC2.

Earlier yesterday evening, BBC2's live coverage of England's opening match in the women's Euro 2005 football tournament rated well, pulling in 2.5 million viewers and a 12% audience share between 6.40pm and 9pm.

England's 3-2 victory over Finland was more popular than Five's struggling Matt Le Blanc sitcom, Joey, which attracted 1.4 million viewers and a 6% audience share between 8pm and 8.30pm.

BBC2's football coverage was also up against Channel 4's Pioneer House, which had 1 million viewers and a 5% audience share from 8pm.

Other rival shows included ITV1's Emmerdale and Coronation Street, with 6.9 million and 9.4 million viewers respectively.

BBC2 launched satirical quiz show Mock the Week - a rare foray outside Channel 4 for team captain Rory Bremner - between 10pm and 10.30pm last night. The topical comedy show had 1.9 million viewers and a 9% audience share.

Mock the Week was up against Channel 4's movie repeat The Long Kiss Goodnight, which pulled in 1.7 million viewers.

ITV1's Celebrity Love Island performed better in its later time slot last night, winning its 10.35pm slot with 3.1 million viewers and a 21% audience share.

The reality show was up against BBC1's terrestrial movie premiere The Mothman Prophecies, which attracted 2.3 million viewers, and a BBC2 documentary about the McLibel trial, which was watched by 1 million viewers.